Automatic copy validation using real-world application traffic

A non-transitory storage medium having stored therein computer-executable instructions which, when executed by one or more hardware processors, perform the following operations:

• bringing up a clone application in a validation environment;
• replaying recorded incoming network traffic to the clone application;
• obtaining a response of the clone application to the incoming network traffic;
• comparing the response of the clone application to the incoming network traffic with recorded outgoing network traffic of a production application that was generated by the production application in response to receipt, by the production application, of the incoming network traffic;
• making a validation determination regarding the clone application, based on the comparison of the response of the clone application to the recorded outgoing network traffic of the production application, and the validation determination indicates whether or not, when the production application is restored to a particular point in time associated with the clone application, the production application will operate without any problems;
• and
• when the clone application is not validated, identifying and resolving a problem relating to the clone application.